Aunt Julia and the Love Parade
- Before all the bad stuff happened, Aunt Julia used to drop in uninvited all the time and talk everyone's ear off. Cullen's mom discovered that to make her shut up, you have to talk her ear off without giving her room to interrupt—if you do this, she leaves.
- Now that Oslo and Gabriel are gone, though, Cullen's mom visits Aunt Julia every day and brings her food; Aunt Julia's been so depressed that she's having a hard time even feeding herself.
- Cullen goes through the drive-thru and gets Aunt Julia a burger and some fries before heading over to her house, filled with dread. She basically eats like she hasn't eaten all day (because she probably hasn't).
- They sit in silence for a while, and then Aunt Julia says that she hates that they're all still left behind and hurting when their beloved family members are missing and gone. Cullen asks her to stay with them for a while, but she doesn't want to inconvenience them.
- Even though he hates hugging people, Cullen makes himself hug his aunt before he leaves.
- The next day, Lucas comes over with big news: John Barling has captured a real photo of the Lazarus bird. They're going to have a festival the following week to unveil the photo.
- Cullen isn't that interested and explains to Lucas that he just quit his job because he hates feeling hopeful every time the door opens—and then being disappointed that the person walking in isn't Gabriel. It's always someone else.
- He says that he's going to sit around and wait until Ada comes, and Lucas breaks the bad news to him—Ada's been at Russell's place. Hanging out with the old ex-boyfriend, eh?
- Cullen finds his mom sitting alone and looking at photos from last Christmas, especially those of Gabe. He doesn't see Ada that day or the next one, since she's at Russell's house.
- Even though he's totally against going, Cullen agrees to attend the Woodpecker Festival because he thinks that he might have a chance of seeing Ada there. Pathetic, but what can you do when you're madly in love with a girl who's avoiding you like the plague?
- Well, he does see Ada, but surprise (or not so much)—she's there with Russell. He's in a wheelchair and connected to a breathing machine, and Ada is steering him through the festival, pecking him on the cheek, and whispering in his ear.
- Later, John Barling sits down to talk to Cullen and says that he believes it's his destiny to find the Lazarus bird; when he asks Cullen what his destiny is, though, Cullen just shrugs.